Why are my tomato leaves curling?

Leaf curl is often a response to heat stress or moisture fluctuations.

Do I need to prune my tomatoes?

Pruning suckers helps improve airflow and fruit size on indeterminate varieties.

Plant guide

Tomato.

Solanum lycopersicum

Pronounced so-LAY-num ly-ko-PER-si-kum

Also known as Garden Tomato, Tomato

Tomatoes are beloved garden staples that produce juicy, flavorful fruits throughout the summer. They thrive in warm weather and require plenty of sunshine to reach their full potential. You will find them easy to grow if you provide consistent moisture and support for their vines.

Another photo of Tomato — Photo by harrylurling (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Herbaceous annual
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 1 to 3 days
Mature size: 100 to 300 cm
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 11
Bloom time: Early summer to first frost

Care

Provide sturdy stakes or cages to support the heavy fruit as the plant grows. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent blossom end rot. Watch for signs of pests like aphids or diseases like blight, which often appear as spots on the leaves.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during hot weather, to avoid fruit cracking.
Feeding: Use a balanced fertilizer once the plant begins to set fruit.
Pruning: Remove suckers that grow in the leaf axils to improve airflow and fruit production.
Repotting: Tomatoes are typically grown as annuals and do not require repotting.
Soil: Well draining, rich, loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.8
Temperature: 15 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Annual, typically 1 growing season.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Plant growth slows significantly despite regular feeding.
Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: The foliage and stems are toxic if ingested due to solanine content.
Pets: The leaves and stems contain solanine, which can be harmful if ingested by cats or dogs.
Children: Keep children away from the green foliage and stems as they are toxic if chewed or swallowed.
Contact allergens: Handling the fuzzy stems and leaves can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not typically airborne and rarely causes respiratory issues.
Edibility: Only the ripe fruit is safe to eat, as the leaves and stems contain solanine.

How to identify it

Compound leaves with serrated edges
Yellow star shaped flowers
Vining or bushy growth habit
Fleshy fruits in various colors
Distinctive pungent foliage scent

Height: 0.6 to 2.5m
Spread: 0.45 to 1.2m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 3cm
Fruit: red, yellow, orange, purple, green, Summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: Spring
Overwintering: In most climates, these are grown as annuals and should be removed after the first frost.
In containers: Tomatoes grow very well in containers, provided you use a pot with at least 5 gallons of capacity.

Seed starting

1. Sow seeds in trays 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
2. Keep the soil warm and moist until germination occurs.
3. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
4. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Planting aromatic herbs nearby can help mask the scent of tomatoes from hungry pests.

Grows well with

Basil — Basil is thought to improve flavor and repel certain pests.
Marigold — Marigolds help deter nematodes in the soil.
Nasturtium — They act as a trap crop for aphids.

Keep away from

Potato — They share similar diseases and pests that can spread rapidly between them.
Fennel — Fennel is known to inhibit the growth of many garden vegetables.

Similar species

Tomatillo — They share similar growth habits and cultural needs.
Eggplant — They are close relatives in the nightshade family.

Science

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western South America
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is widely cultivated globally.

It evolved in high altitude regions where it adapted to warm days and cool nights.

Value to wildlife: attracts beneficial pollinators
Pollinators: bees
Uses: culinary fruit, home gardening, container gardening

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 7/9
Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my tomato leaves curling?: Leaf curl is often a response to heat stress or moisture fluctuations.
Do I need to prune my tomatoes?: Pruning suckers helps improve airflow and fruit size on indeterminate varieties.

Where the name comes from

The name Solanum comes from the Latin word for soothing, while lycopersicum translates to wolf peach.

Good to know

Tomatoes were once called poison apples.
There are over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.
The heaviest tomato ever recorded weighed over 10 pounds.
Tomatoes are a staple crop in home gardens worldwide.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your tomato growing

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.